Means for mounting or supporting incandescent-lamp sockets or other electrical outlets



July 28, 1925. 1,547,320

J. HAMILTON MEANS FOR MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKETS OR OTHER ELECTRICAL OUTLETS Filed Sept. 24, 1 919 FIG 1 INVENTDR Patented July 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN HAMILTON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MEANS FOR MOUNTING 0R SUPPORTING INCANDESCENT-LAMP SOCKETS OR OTHER ELECTRICAL OUTLETS.

Application fled Se tember-a4, 1919. Serial No. 326,056.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HAMILTON, residing at 140 Bellevue' Street, West Roxbur Y Station, of Boston, in the county of Su 01k and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Mounting or Supporting Incandescent-Lamp Sockets or Other Electrical Outlets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention comprises an improvement upon the usual method of mounting or supporting incandescent lamp sockets or any electrical outlet. The extension of the use of electric lighting to places or foundations that are subject to vibration or general unsteadiness has been greatly limited or retarded by the troubles that arise in the lamps and lamp contacts due to the vibra-' tions.

Generally, experience has shown that vibration has had the effect of shaking loose and apart the various assembled parts and contacts within the lamp socketitself; also the tendency of the vibration has been to unscrew the lamp from the socket and to cause the lamp to fall and perhaps cause injury.

Again with the more recent adoption of highly sensitive filaments such asthe tungsten lamp filament the troubles from vibration become still more serious, in fact so serious that on certain installations on account of the vibration the highly efiicient tungsten lamp cannot be used-at all. Experience has shown that ninety five per centof all troubles on incandescent lamp circuits are found either in the lamp or lamp socket.

The objects of my invention are first to reduce to a minimum all vibration on both the lamp and lamp socket; second to enable the lamp and lamp socket, the usual location of trouble to be readily removedfrom the circuit and lowered to the ground for inspect-ion and repairs, by simply lifting the lamp socket from the circuit contacts without the use of the usual disconnecting tools.

This device becomes very valuable apart from vibration as a means of access to lamps located in very hi h positions where exceedingly long lad ers or elaborate lowering machinery are necessary to get at elevated fixtures. With this device individual sockets with their lamps may .be removed from the circuit on the end of a pole or hook and although my invention is primarily applicable to the field of incandescent light- }ingdits use is by no means limitedto that In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows a front elevation and Figure '2 shows a plan; the left hand contactor in Figure 1 shows a section view and the details of construction in both the right and left hand contactors arethe same; identical letters in both views indicate identical parts.

A is a common metal shell electric li ht socket attached by suitable nipple to con uit pipe fitting T'; P is a orcelain thimbie or bushing screwed into he ends of the conduit pipe fitting T and having terminal screw G penetrating its end wall to engage the nut or flange F; S is a metal spiral spring slipped over the ends of the metal contact rods B, 13 Y is a conduit pipe fitting with its horns terminating in standard conduit outlet fittings O, O; Q, Q, are porcelain bushings set into the conduit outlets O, O and fitted with the terminal contacts D, D.

The socket Wires are conducted from the socket terminals in A through the conduit pipe fitting T to the terminal screws C; circuit or other wires connected to the source of power come from the general conduit system or other wire raceway through the conduit pipe fitting Y to the terminal contacts D, D; R is a metal bushing threaded into the porcelain bushing P and having clearance holes fitted as guides for the slidable contact rods B, B

When the device is mounted for operation as shown in Figure 1 the current comes from the circuit wires through the terminal contacts D, D into the contact rods B, B and thence through the compression springs S and terminal screws C and socket wires to the lamp terminals in A; also in this position the springs S are compressed between the statlonary washer or shoulder W and the metal flan es. or nuts F, F due to the suspended welght of the lamp, lamp socket and pi e fitting T.

From this escrip-tion it will be apparent that this lamp socket with its lamp may be very simply removed from contact with the circuit or replaced in contact without tools and also that racticall all jar or vibration is prevented rom reac ing either the lamp or the lamp socket by the cushioning effect of the compression s rings.

Having fully descri ed my mvention what I claim as new and wish to protect by Letters Patent is as follows I 1. In combination conduit pipe fittings with an opening on their upper surfaces; said openings fitted with an insulated bushing having a passa eway from its upper to its lower end; said ushings having a fixed electric terminal attached to then lower ends and arranged so as to project into and obstruct the bushing passageway; a socket piece fitted with projectmg contacts designed to engage and be supported by sald fixed electric terminals and a cush1onm device between the projecting contacts an the socket piece.

2. In combination conduit fittings enclosing insulatin bushings; electric termmals mounted rigi 1 within said insulatin bushings; a porta le bridging devlce avmg projectin contacts adapted to drop into said insu ating bushings and be supported by said electric terminals within said bushto be dropped within said insulating guides'- and to slide downward until they rest upon said electric contact seats and com ression springs inserted between said portab e socket 40 piece and its projecting terminals.

4. In combination a socket piece rigidly attached to and depending from a cross piece; compressible terminals extending from said cross piece; electric circuit contacts rigidly mounted and disposed so as to engage and support said compressible terminals and insu ating channels to guide said compressible terminals and maintain the depending socket piece in a vertical position.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

JOHN HAMILTON. V 

